Ain Dara Temple (1000 BC)

Ain Dara temple in northern Syria parallels Solomons Temple

in:
Age it was built
Size
Plan
Decoration
There are 30
architectural and
decorative features
similar to Solomons
Temple.
Both Temples were built on manmade platforms
Both Temples were built at the highest point of the city
Both Temples had a three part layout:
o entry porch supported by two columns
o a main sanctuary (Holy Place)
o elevated shrine (Holy of Holies)
Both Temples had multistoried rooms or chambers built
along both sides and the back for use as store rooms,
meeting rooms and a variety of other purposes.
The interior and exterior of the Ain Dara temple was covered with
carvings of:
lions
mythical animals (cherubim, sphinxes)
floral patterns
geometric patterns

The Ain Dara temple was discovered by chance after an enourmous basalt lion
was uncovered in 1955. The site was excavated in 1956, 1962 and 1964.
After the invasion of the Sea People this site was rebuilt around 1100-900 BC.
It appears the Temple was built on a holy site recognized since the Chalcolithic
period (4000-3000 BC). The Ain Dara temple was built and developed
between 1300 BC-740 BC in three phases and remained in use for 560 years:
1300-1000 BC
1000-900 BC
900-740 BC
The Ain Dara Temple seems to have been dedicated to the goddess Ishtar.
It is believed the Ain Dara Temple was constructed with mud-brick that was covered with wood paneling.
The threshold of the Ain Dara temple have two
36 inch footprints (one right, one left) carved
into the stone floor. This is followed by a 30
foot stride marked by a right foot and then a
second 30 foot stride marked by a left foot
carving in the main sanctuary. These footprints
show the arrival of the goddess Ishtar and her
entrance into the Holy Place to be seated. The
foot size and the stride would indicate the
goddess was 65 feet tall.

The
was a
and
the time of

existence and the discovery of the Ain Dara temple

undermines the academic argument the Solomons Temple
fantasy or merely a literary device. The design, decoration
existence of a Temple extremely similar to Solomons from
Solomon is real and not fictional.